Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-03

A Personal P0at-0ffico.
wHAf GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR sTcMBLxp uPoN m
TIE wfLps or HLfkofa
From the United States Mail
A travelling post-ofhce inspector went up into
Scott county few days ago for the purpose Of In
vestigating certain reported crookedneas. One
afternoon he reached small cabin situated near Q
lonely road. He stopped, intending to get o drink
OF water, and a. he drew near the house was IS
tonished at seeing a signboard bearing the follow
ing inscription: aPoosl offs" An old fellow With
s Ssard SHs out sIa
nodding 10 the inspector, sat down on q stump.
. .5EoI.s are your" said the inspector
"Have you some fresh water handy?"
"Pienty Nv IL down thar in the branch. One Nv
ther boys shot my bucket AL Yer pieces, an sence
then | halter 60 ter Their branch wen wanter
just then a man, mounted on a mule, rode up
and asked: "Mr. Piumner, got any letters for
.Yas, thar's one here, Bill Patterson, but you
KANT get It. Go on away rum mere or III make
you wush you hadn't come
"Yas, and Their Niger wushed that ther coon
would come down outer Their tree, but he didn't
"say, Mr. Piummer--
"shut yer mouth an say nothin. an morn that,
The man rode up. and the Inspector, addressing
the postmaster, asked:
"Why didn't you give that man his letter'n
oSSSASS
ayes, but thsUovernment doesn't care anything
for that"
"But you were appointed TO serve the people,"
my "YSs a an sarve en- ''o-sarve some Nv them
any friend, am travelling post-ofnce inspector
an"
San right, then, travel
"If I report you to the P0St-Once Depart
ment, which / shall be very apt to DO. you'n
travel"
OUT
aaow long have you had this ofuces"
"Ever sense built IL"
al mean how long have you been postmaster"
"'Bout year, 1 reckon"
AZ this tuncture an old fellow, cautiously pick
postmaster, who upon seeing him sprang to his
feet and exclaimed:
"Whut in thunder do you want here, Abe
Smith,"
'COme after that paper"
didn't tell yer that yer KANT git it,"
Eyes, but lowed that yer mout change yer
"Wall, haint When yer refused ter lend me
yer slide an boss totner week told yer that yer
"Pm er gon ter get that paper"
'sNot lessen yer a better man than be-"
San that's erbout what think"
"Wall, help yerser"
With agility surprising for such old men they
grappled each other and began q desperate struX-
gle Abe Smith succeeded In throwing the post
master.
"Now," said Smith, as he began to choke old
Plummer, sgoin to let me have that paperY"
gurgled Eyes" came from the postmasters
throat. Smith released his hold and suffered Plum
mer to get up.
"WaiL," said the postmaster as he stood brush
ing fragments OF leaves and bark from his beard,
81 reckon wuz sorter mistaken in yer. didn't
know that yer wuz such a nice man. Come In,
Abe. an git yer paper, fur yer have earnedi 1t like
white man."
"Ain't thar letter for me, too9"
"Yas."
"Kain't git IT, Able. Yer Mt fur Their paper an
not fur ther letter."
SCOT TO have IL, Plummer."
mot lessen yer whip me ergain."
"B'l'eve ken do It,"
"All right, Able"
rThey went at It again, pranced around, striking
at each other. Finally Plummer struck Abe o
heavy blow and felled him; then, seating himself
on the prostrate man, he said:
Don't want thS letter, do yer, Adler"
Reckon not, Fummer."
Gall right come erhead an git yer paperr
When Abe had gone, the postmaster turned to
the inspector and said:
want anything ouJen met"
'No, believe not"
"Er yer had er letter here an didn't want yer
ter have 1t yer wouldn't argy tner pint. would
II don't think that I should"
"DOnt want no truck with me?"
"None."
"Wsll then. good-by. Got ter 20 in now an
make up ther mall"